See You on the Other Side

I flew with my infant son to visit a friend who has been given a death sentence: terminal lung cancer. As I sat across from her and her husband, I asked, "What is really important in life?" She thought for a moment and then spoke with remarkable calm. What is written below is a summary along with my observations.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. Stuff doesn't matter. We hyper-focus on the little annoying things in our lives. We waste so much energy on trivial matters. The chip in the windshield. The stain on the table cloth. The ridiculous purple wall in some one's dining room. ;)

Follow Your Dreams. Don't live in regret! If you have a big dream in life, fulfill it. Make a plan. Invest some money. And do it. Life is much too short to shelve God-given visions under "someday, maybe".

Loyal Friends and Family. "When you are dying, you find out who your friends and family really are," she remarked with a touch of sadness. It is easy for us to celebrate with our friends and family when life is good. But are we willing to stand by someone when life is hard, ugly, depressing, and devastating?

Responsible Planning. "I never realized the importance of life insurance and critical medical insurance until my life took an unexpected turn," she reflected. Plan for your loved ones. Will they be taken care of when you are gone?

Eternity. My friend has a remarkable faith. She knows she is going HOME. And as hard as it is to say goodbye to so many, she KNOWS her final destiny. She believes that this is not the end. She is yearning for the moment when she can fall into the embrace of her Heavenly Father, forever. It is my desire that I will face the end of my days with her courage and faith.

Goodbye my friend. See you on the other side.

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